For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Exodus 9:15-16 NIV
When God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh and his officials that He would send hailstones upon the land of Egypt, I noticed the depth of His grace. God could have unleashed judgment without warning, yet He chose patience. As Exodus 9:15-16 shows, He allowed time for Pharaoh to repent so that He might reveal His power and His name proclaimed throughout the earth. This was an invitation to receive mercy before the storm came.
The warning was an act of compassion. God did not simply bring destruction; He offered a way to preserve lives. In Exodus 9:19, He said, “Send and gather your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter.” This was not merely practical advice. It was a final opportunity to respond to His mercy. God provided the means for safety, but the choice to receive mercy rested with them.
Some accepted the offer. Exodus 9:20 tells us that certain officials of Pharaoh feared the word of the Lord, obeyed, and brought their servants and animals inside. As a result, they were not among those killed by the hailstorm. Others ignored the warning, leaving their livestock and workers exposed. When the hail and lightning fell — the most devastating storm Egypt had ever known — everything in the open was destroyed. Crops, animals, and lives were lost. Only the land of Goshen remained untouched, shielded by God’s protection.
Those who suffered did not perish because God lacked compassion. They perished because they rejected God’s mercy. The way to safety had been clearly provided, yet they refused it. Today, the same truth remains. God’s offer of grace, peace, and salvation is open to all. But to escape judgment, we must accept His invitation and receive mercy through Jesus Christ.
Living It Out
God’s grace is reaching out to you today. Do not harden your heart. Accept His offer of salvation. Step under His covering before the storm comes. Receive His mercy, embrace His peace, and walk in the security of His promises.